 Hello, and welcome to ASL Storytelling with the Educational Resource Center on Deafness here at Texas School for the Deaf. My name is Lisa Cochran, and I will be your ASL storyteller. I'm really excited that you're joining me today. Reading is really fun. There's so many great books out there. The book we will be reading today is called Heckety Peg, written by Audrey Wood and illustrated by Dawn Wood. Down the dusty road and far away, a poor mother once lived with her seven children, named Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Every day, before the mother went to market, her children helped with all the chores. One morning, when they were finished, the mother said, Because you are such good children, you may ask for anything you want, and I will bring it home from the market. The children were overjoyed and knew exactly what they wanted. Monday asked for a tub of butter. Tuesday asked for a pocket knife. Wednesday asked for a china pitcher. Thursday asked for a pot of honey. Friday asked for a tin of salt. Saturday asked for crackers. And Sunday asked for a bowl of egg pudding. The mother kissed her children goodbye and said, Now be careful, and remember, don't let a stranger in and don't touch fire. The children locked the door behind her and began to play. Before long, a witch hobbled up the road pulling a heavy cart. She wrapped up the window and called out, Wash my leg! Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday called. Mother told us not to let strangers in. Hegody Peg took a pipe from her cape and stuck it in her mouth. Ow, sweet chickens! She called. All I need is a light for my pipe. Bring me a burning straw. We can't! Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday called. Mother told us not to touch the fire. Hegody Peg reached into her cart and pulled out a sack. Sure your mother won't mind, she said. Look, if you let me in and light my pipe, I'll give you this. Leaning out the window, the children looked into the sack. They couldn't believe their eyes. They cried, for a sack of gold we'll let you in and light your pipe. The children unlocked the door and let the witch in. They ran to the hearth and brought back burning sticks of straw to light her pipe. But when it was lit, Hegody Peg threw the pipe to the floor and shouted, Now I've got you! And with that, the witch turned the children into food. Monday became bread, Tuesday became pie, Wednesday became milk, Thursday became porridge, Friday became fish, Saturday became cheese, and Sunday became roast rib. Hegody Peg gathered up the food and loaded it into her cart. Without looking back, she pulled the cart down the road, over the bridge, through the town, across the field, and deep into the woods to her hut. Soon the mother returned home carrying a large basket. In it were all the things her children wanted. A tub of butter for Monday. A pocket knife for Tuesday. A china pitcher for Wednesday. A pot of honey for Thursday. A tin of salt for Friday. Crackers for Saturday. And a bowl of egg pudding for Sunday. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, she called. But no one answered. The mother found the witch's broken pipe and burnt pieces of straw on the floor. Tears flowed from her eyes. Who has taken my children? She cried. A blackbird who had seen everything took pity on the mother and hopped down to the window sill. Follow me, the bird chirped. It's Hegody Peg. She's lost her leg. They let her in. Grabbing her basket, the mother followed the blackbird down the road, over the bridge, through the town, across the field, and deep into the woods to the witch's hut. Hegody Peg had just sat down to supper and was about to take her first bite when she heard a loud knock at the door. The mother called. I want my children back. You can't come in, said Hegody Peg. Your shoes are dirty. Then I'll take them off, the mother said. And so she did. The mother called. I want my children back. You can't come in, said Hegody Peg. Your socks are dirty. Then I'll take them off, the mother said. And so she did. Let me in, the mother called. I want my children back. You still can't come in, said Hegody Peg. Your feet are dirty. Then I'll cut them off, the mother said. And she went away as if to do so. But instead the mother hid her legs behind her and crawled back to the witch's door. Let me in, the mother called. I want my children back. When Hegody Peg looked down, she thought the mother had no feet, so she let her in. The witch pointed to the table. Here are your children, she said. If you can't guess them right the first time, I'll eat them for my supper. Keeping her feet tucked beneath her, the mother crawled to the table. How would she ever guess which food was which child? In despair, the mother looked in her basket. Here are the things my children wanted, she thought. And now they will never have them. Hurry, said the witch. I'm hungry. The mother looked at the food on the table. Speak up, said the witch. My supper grows cold. Suddenly the mother knew what to do. Taking the things from her basket, she said. I know my children by what they want. Bread wants butter, that's Monday. Pie wants knife, that's Tuesday. Milk wants pitcher, that's Wednesday. Porridge wants honey, that's Thursday. Fish wants salt, that's Friday. Cheese wants crackers, that's Saturday. And roast rib wants egg pudding, that's Sunday. Quick as a wink, the children turn back into themselves. Jumping to her feet, the mother cried. I've got my children back, Hecatee Peg. Now you'll be sorry you ever took them. She chased the witch around the hut, out of the woods, across the field, through the town, and onto the bridge. And Hecatee Peg jumped off the bridge and was never seen again. The end. I hope you liked this book. I look forward to you joining me for the next storytelling.